“He studied with Graciela Pomponio, Dolores Costoyas and Víctor Villadangos in the Conservatorio Provincial Juan José Castro, in Buenos Aires, where he obtained his Diploma in classical guitar.

After studying in Universidad de Buenos Aires, he obtained his degree as sociologist in 1993. During the first years of his musical career, he focused mainly on 20th century music.Soon after, in 1994, he gained interest in early music, specializing on lute, theorbo, baroque guitar and thorough bass, becoming the first theorbo player in Argentina.

His continuous relationship with Eduardo Egüez, Dolores Costoyas, and Hopkinson Smith allowed him to support his own research in this field. ..”

After completing his guitar studies with A.Marrosu and O.Ghiglia with awards in various competitions, he began, in the 1980's to dedicate himself to performance practice of renaissance and baroque music, and began playing the lute, exclusively.

From 1982, after graduating cum laude in musicology from the University of Bologna, he continued his studies at the famous Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Basel, Switzerland, with H.Smith, E.Dombois and J.Christensen.

He began an intense concertistic career which carried him to Europe, the two Americas and Japan, performing for such prestigious institutions as the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde and the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Staatsoper in Berlin and the Teatro alla Scala in Milano with musicians like A. Curtis, B.Dickey, C.Banchini, J.Christensen, R.Clemencic, J.Savall, R.Muti. " See website for more information. (ed.)

“ .. In 2009 Andrew has formed and directs a revolutionary new ensemble: Consort Astræa, whose début project: "Harmonious Revolutions: Galileo & The Music of the Spheres", he created for the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, during which it has seen four highly successful performances in such culturally important venues as The State Library of New South Wales (as part of the Sydney Italian Festival), The National Press Club of Australia (for the Inaugural Higher Education Conference for Universities Australia), and Elizabeth Bay House. A 'live renaissance multimedia happening', it features music from the Galilei family & the Florentine Camerata, scripted tableaux in the form of Socratic dialogue from writings of the Galilei circle, synchronised with projection of spectacular astro-photography by Professor David Malin (discoverer of two galaxies), and was made possible with generous sponsorship from the National Academies Forum and The Royal Society of New South Wales.

With Sydney-based soprano Anna Fraser & Melbourne-based viola da gamba virtuosa Laura Vaughan, he has also formed a trio: The Muses' Salon, introducing Australian audiences to the most enchanting & intimate chamber music of the Renaissance & Baroque periods on these rare instruments.

Andrew has taught lute performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, tutored at early music workshops around Australia, and in his private Sydney teaching practise .“

"Formed under the expert guidance of Patrice Connelly, the Society was incorporated on 23 June 2000. Since that time it has a proud record of achievement in serving the needs of players in Australia and New Zealand by holding workshops and producing both a regular newsletter and a journal 'Chelys Australis'. The most recent issue was volume 6 and details are on this web site."

"Laura Vaughan is gaining a reputation as Australia’s most exciting viola da gamba and lirone player of the rising generation and has had a distinguished list of teachers including Wieland Kuijken, Philippe Pierlot, Miriam Morris and Anneke Pols. Following her return to Australia from studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in 2004, she has established a busy schedule of teaching and performing from her base in Melbourne and performs a wide range of solo and chamber repertoire across Australia, Europe and the United States. Passionate about the sound world of the viol, Laura is committed to bringing this exquisite repertoire to audiences around the world." Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Born in Melbourne, Australia, Rosemary Hodgson has lived and worked abroad, performing in Britain, Portugal, Sweden, Germany and Venezuela.

Since her return to Australia in 2000, Rosemary has been in constant demand. Her recent engagements include Richard Mill's opera Batavia with the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, Monteverdi Vespers in the Melbourne Early Music Festival, Monteverdi Madrigals with e21, Backgammon Baroque Tasmanian tour, Bach St John's Passion with the Australian Baroque Ensemble, Vivaldi Vespers with The Choir of Newman College and guest soloist in the Palestrina Project's Victoria Requiem.

As a freelance musician, Rosemary balances accompanying, solo and continuo performances and teaching. She has appeared frequently on ABC television and radio, Channel Seven and 3MBS and is featured on La Compania's CD Music of the Spanish Renaissance (Move). Her debut solo recording, rosa, was released in March 2004. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

“Welcome to The Marais Project www site. I founded The Marais Project in 2000 to perform the complete works of Marin Marais in the unique context of 21st century Australia. Over the years our repertoire has greatly expanded and now includes a huge range of wonderful vocal and instrumental music for the viola da gamba from the 1400's to the present. We also commission and arrange new music for the ensemble. Concert tickets and copies of our CDs are available from this site using Paypal. You will also find reviews, articles, interesting links and past programs.

I hope that you enjoy the site and that you can come to our concerts. Thanks for visiting.

"When harpist Ann Fierens completed her training at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Utrecht, she was convinced that she should continue her orchestral career. She commenced her continuing education with the iWhen harpist Ann Fierens completed her training at the Hogeschool voor de Kunsten in Utrecht, she was convinced that she should continue her orchestral career. She commenced her continuing education with the intention to follow the same road and to discover the possibilities within the music scene in Belgium. She was given the opportunity to work with Dick van der Harst in an Oxalys production and het Muziek Lod and she played works by Debussy, Ravel, Glière and Fontyn as a soloist accompanied by an orchestra.

Her teacher Erika Waardenburg urged her to dedicate herself to the repertory from the classical period. She soon discovered that the eighteenth century represented a fascinating episode in harp history: the single action pedal harp was invented and soon entered a glorious period when it was introduced to the French court and the Concert Sprituel.

When Ann first met ‘her’ Erard, it was love at first sight. Fascinated by the rich sound of the instrument, she dived into libraries looking for old methods and writings which would teach her how to play and look after her instrument in the best way. The cooperation continued to improve and Ann developed a passion for music, musicians and instruments dating from the 18th and the early 19th century. ntention to follow the same road and to discover the possibilities within the music scene in Belgium. She was given the opportunity to work with Dick van der Harst in an Oxalys production and het Muziek Lod and she played works by Debussy, Ravel, Glière and Fontyn as a soloist accompanied by an orchestra.
Her teacher Erika Waardenburg urged her to dedicate herself to the repertory from the classical period. She soon discovered that the eighteenth century represented a fascinating episode in harp history: the single action pedal harp was invented and soon entered a glorious period when it was introduced to the French court and the Concert Sprituel.
When Ann first met ‘her’ Erard, it was love at first sight. Fascinated by the rich sound of the instrument, she dived into libraries looking for old methods and writings which would teach her how to play and look after her instrument in the best way. The cooperation continued to improve and Ann developed a passion for music, musicians and instruments dating from the 18th and the early 19th century. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Hannelore Devaere studied historical harp at the Akademie für alte Musik, Bremen, with Andrew Lawrence-King. Her main focus is on music of Spain and Italy from the Renaissance and Baroque periods . As a soloist she can be heard in many recordings and is often featured on national radio. As a continuo player, she records regularly with many national and international ensembles, including Zefiro Torna, Romanesque, Elyma and Al Ayre Espanol. Hannelore is also a musicologist specialized in 16th- and 17th-century iconography and organology; as such, she has worked for the Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels. She is a very active lecturer at symposia and music festivals, and is a published scholar.

Hannelore teaches the harp, continuo, improvisation and primary-source reading at the music schools of Tielt, Knokke and Woluwé (Brussels). She is often invited to give masterclasses in Belgium (Festival Van Vlaanderen) and abroad.

Hannelore was the first harpist on record to perform on the ice cap in the Antarctica and has a landing spot under her own name. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

" Raphaella Smits plays worldwide in her unique way eight-string guitars and historical instruments. Solo recitals as well as performances in duo with the most distinguished colleagues.
Besides that stage-work she has made 16 albums, many of them being listed as indispensable to refined music lovers.

Raphaella Smits is internationally praised as an inspiring teacher for both guitar and chamber music. In addition to her chair at the Lemmens Institute in Belgium, she regularly gives master classes in West and East Europe, in North and South America and in Japan.

Organizers of international music competitions ask Raphaella as a member of the jury because of her ability to listen and to judge so accurately. Here again she shows her talent to combine professional skills with a great sense of empathy.

"This website has been created as an information-sharing network to facilitate communication among Canadian players of the viola da gamba. Whether you are new to the viol (curious for more information, wanting to rent or buy an instrument or find a teacher), an amateur (perhaps interested in attending a workshop or concert) or a professional (who wants to post information about an upcoming event or locate players in a different region), we hope this website will serve as a useful resource. Travelling across the country on holiday or for business? There may be other players in the area who'd like to get together to play informally, or perhaps there is a concert or workshop that fits within your schedule.

Who are we? The concept for a Canadian Viol Players information-sharing network was originally proposed at an informal meeting of the Canadian participants in the Viola da Gamba Society of America's annual Conclave, during the summer of 2005. In response to that demand, the information on this website was compiled by Joëlle Morton (Toronto), assisted by Sara Blake (Toronto), Peter Payzant (Halifax) and Chrissy Spencer (Vancouver). "

“DANIEL THONON was born in 1949, in Brussels. His father, a Jazz pianist, owns a cabarets where artists such as Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens hold concerts, as well as an art Gallery.

Daniel immigrates to Canada in 1963 and settles in Montreal, where he finishes his High School Studies. He goes on to study at McGill University at the Faculty of Music, then leaves for Switzerland, where he will study Harpsichord and Early Music at the Conservatory of Music in Geneva. Daniel Thonon then moves to Annecy, France, where he will spend the next ten years playing and producing himself in various concerts around Europe with his Early Music Group "Le Concert dans L'Oeuf". He produces four records with this group, while at the same time, researching various aspects of Musicology, Instrument building, and works for two years as a Music Therapist in a psychiatric institute. He composes and arranges various works for theatre and cinema, traditional music groups, rock, jazz, contemporary, etc.

In 1978, he goes to study music of the Arab/Andaluz tradition in Tlemcen, Algeria, and returns to Canada to settle in St-Marc-sur-Richelieu, where he now lives with his spouse and three children. Upon his return to Canada, he plays with the Ensemble Claude Gervaise for two years, then forms "Ad Vielle que Pourra", a traditional folk Music group, which will rapidly acquire international reputation. During its twelve years of existence, "Ad Vielle que Pourra" has played in hundreds of concerts each year, across North America and Europe. The group has recorded four CD's on the American Label "Green Linnet", which were sold all over the world.

After the dissolution of "Ad Vielle que Pourra" in 1999, Daniel Thonon forms the group "Montcorbier", which carries on the works of the former group. Daniel Thonon composes and arranges for other artists, tours as soloist on the accordion and baroque hurdy-gurdy, and pursues his various activities in musicology and instrument building. ..“

“Their musical complicity has been compared to the skill of two trapeze artists or the telepathic communion of a pair of jazz saxophonists! Susie Napperand Margaret Little, the two gambists of Les Voix humaines, have been thrilling audiences worldwide with dashing performances of early and contemporary music for viols since 1985. They are renowned for their spectacular arrangements of a wide variety of music for two viols and have become a world reference for the music of Sainte-Colombe. After being awarded a Diapason d'Or for their fourth volume of Sainte-Colombe's Concerts a deux violes esgales, they just received the Opus Award 2007 for PERFORMER OF THE YEAR from the Conseil québécois de la musique.

Les Voix humaines has invited prestigious artists to join them in concert and recordings, such as Wieland and Barthold Kuijken, Charles Daniels, Suzie LeBlanc, Rinat Shaham, Matthew White, Eric Milnes, Skip Sempe and Stephen Stubbs. The duo is regularly joined by some of Montreal’s finest young gambists to form the Voix Humaines Consort of viols specializing in the vast 17th-century repertoire for viol consort and presents joint projects with Les Voix baroques (Matthew White’s vocal ensemble). ..“

"The Lute Legends Ensemble is a new collaboration between three of Toronto’s most noted performers and teachers of plucked-string instruments. Each player represents one of three ancient musical traditions: the glorious polyphony of the European Renaissance and Baroque, the virtuosic modal improvisation of the Middle East, and the picturesque musical depiction of nature from China. The lute, the oud, and the pipa each evolved extremely different playing techniques and styles along different parts of the Silk Road centuries ago. This new ensemble now brings the three instruments together in a cross-traditional experiment for the twenty-first century."

"Pallade Musica brings together four of Montreal's most promising Early Music performers. Grand Prize winners at the Early Music America Baroque Performance Competition in New York, October 2012, the quartet consists of Tanya LaPerrière, Baroque violon, Elinor Frey, Baroque cello, Esteban La Rotta, theorbo, and Mylène Bélanger, harpsichord. They played together in past seasons in groups such as Ensemble Caprice, Arion, Proemio, and the Montreal Baroque Festival before launching their own Montreal series at the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours.

Their formation explores the repertoire for violin, cello and continuo allowing for a diverse sound palette of various textures and colors. Future concerts include Monteverdi madrigals with VivaVoce and soprano Shannon Mercer, and performances at Early Music Vancouver, Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Festival Alexandria, Early Music Now (WI), and the Connecticut and Indianapolis Early Music Festivals, among others. ..."

“After studies at Cornell University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook, Thomas Georgi moved to Australia to take up a position with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. While a resident of Brisbane he developed an interest in early music, founding the Badinerie Players. Since his return to North America to join the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, he has specialized in the Viola D'Amore, performing solos on that instrument with Tafelmusik across North America, in Japan, in Europe and in Australia. He has recorded for Sony Vivarte, BMG and CBC as a violinist, but now with the completion of the series of Ariosti's music for viola d'amore for the remarkable Bis.se record lable, Thomas Georgi will have made the largest and most widely available recording project of the viola d'amore in the history of recorded sound. ..“

"Giovanna Pessi was born in Basel, Switzerland, and began playing the harp at age 7. At the age of 13, she began to play on an instrument by Erard, built in 1800. The experience with this historical harp, its light touch, and unique sound, motivated her to focus her studies towards early music and historical instruments. From 1993 to 1995, Ms. Pessi studied the 18th century pedal harp with Edward Witsenburg in Den Haag. Beginning in 1994, she also studied with Heidrun Rosenzweig at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. In 1998, she won the Basler Hans Huber Stiftung prize and, in 2000, she received the diploma for historical harp of the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis. From 2000-2002, Giovanna Pessi studied with the Norwegian Lutist, Rolf Lislevand, at the “Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen”, Germany. Studying Lute literature from John Dowland to Johann Sebastian Bach allowed her to cultivate and develop her own musical language. She has participated in master classes given by Mara Galassi and Andrew Lawrence King. As a soloist and accompanist Giovanna Pessi performed with groups and conductors such as Ricercar Consort, Christian Wallumrod Ensemble, Ensemble Kapsberger, Concentus Musicus, Les Flamboyants, La Fenice, Konrad Junghänel, Philippe Pierlot, Rolf Lislevand, Harry Bicket, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Marc Minkowski. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Hopkinson Smith has been called the most moving of present day lutenists...he approaches the lute's universe with a musicality which goes far beyond the seemingly limited voice of his instrument. We invite you to explore on this website the magic of his lute and its music. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

"Masako Art (née Fujimura), began to play harp after long years of piano. After the university, she took historical harp lessons from William Taylor in Scotland and began her studies in medieval and renaissance music at Schola Cantorum in Basel, which she finished with a diploma in Baroque harp in 2004. Currently she has been in the class of Mara Galassi in Milan. Masako took part in opera productions with Jean-Claude Malgoire in Staatsoper Stuttgart, Theatre Lyrique de Tourcoing and Theatre Champs Elysee and with René Jacobs in Innsbrucker Festwochen, Theater an der Wien and Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, as well as in diverse baroque orchestras and chamber ensembles. She participated in recordings including those with New London Consort (Frottole), Luca Scandali and Stefano Molardi (Giovanni Maria Trabaci), and with Il Vero Modo (Arcadia, Love Letters) and in CD/DVD "L'Orfeo" with Le Grand Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy, as well as radio/TV recordings by DRS, ORF, 3SAT, arte and FranceMusique. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)

“Michael Craddock studied music at the University of North Texas, where he was the first guitarist to complete the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree. He was also a performer in master classes of Oscar Ghiglia and José Tomás. An interest in early music eventually led him to study the lute and related historical plucked instruments with Hopkinson Smith at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland. He has performed as a soloist and member of
several ensembles in Europe and the United States. A former faculty member of Texas Christian University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he now lives in Switzerland. His first CD, Tabulatures de Guiterne, was recently released on the Cantus label.“

" He began his research in the field of renaissance and baroque musical idioms around 1979 together with violinist Enrico Gatti and harpsicordist Rinaldo Alessandrini. Studied then with Jordi Savall at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland.
In 1982 he became a member of J.Savall's ensemble Hesperion XX and played with him until 1990 throughout the world, and making dozens of recordings (among them Bach's Kunst der Fuge, J.Dowlands Consort music, Neapolitan Renaissance Music , etc. etc.).
In 1990, after the huge success of his first recording as a soloist (C.P.E.Bach's Sonatas for Viola da Gamba), he was nominated as Professor of viola da gamba at his alma mater, the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Basel. Since this appointment, he concentrates his teachimg activities in Basel, whilst his performing carrier takes him all over the world, playing with artists such as Emma Kirkby, Rolf Lislevand, Rinaldo Alessandrini, Mitzi Meyerson, Jose' Miguel Moreno and many others. Since 1992 he directs Labyrinto, a group of four or five viola da gambas, which is dedicated to the huge "consort music" repertoire. ... "

“Award-winning lutenist/guitarist Peter Croton is an active performer & recording artist as soloist & accompanist. In the press he has been called a "lyric poet of the lute" and has been praised for his "extroverted virtuosity of the highest degree". His compositions for voice & lute have been described as "challenging and refined... highly suited for inclusion in today's concert repertoire". With his duo partner Theresia Bothe he has performed and recorded a wide variety of music, including many of his original songs.

Peter teaches lute, continuo, and historical performance practice at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis and the Musikhochschule in Bern. His tutor, 'Figured Bass on the Classical Guitar - a practical approach based on historical principles', has been described by Konrad Ragossing as

"...a valuable contribution not only to the practice of playing thoroughbass on the classical guitar, but above all to the expansion of knowledge of musical practice in a fundamental period in Western music - a guide equally important for all guitarists, for teachers, students and concert artists".“

“Theresia Bothe & Peter Croton (voice, lute & guitar) have been performing together regularly since 2003. They have performed and recorded a wide variety of music ranging from the Baroque and Classical periods, to folk music, boleros, jazz standards and original songs. Their first recording, "Love Songs From Five Centuries - from Baroque to Folk" was released in 2006 by Centaur Records, their second CD "I'll sing a song for you", exclusively with songs by Peter, was released by Zah Zah (Guild), and their most recent CD, with special guest Derek Lee Ragin, "Remembrance of Things Past", lute songs and solos by John Dowland & Peter Croton, has been released by Guild.“

"Eduardo Figueroa - lutenist, born at Santiago (Chile), studies guitar with Oscar Ohlsen at the Music Institute of the "Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile".

Since 1995 dedicates himself to the study of early music (lute and theorbo), assisting to seminars with Hopkinson Smith, Eduardo Egüez, Paul O'Dette, Nigel North and Juan Carlos Rivera, obtaining his luth diploma on 2004 at the Early Music Institute of the "Accademia Internazionale della Musica" (Milan) under the guide of Paul Beier.

For years he has developed a wide concert activity as a soloist and in orchestral ensembles in Italy, Spain, Norway, United Kingdom, France and South America. ... " Visit website for more information. (ed.)